On the Energy Crisis in Eastern Mediterranean within the Context of Strategy, Taken Steps and Do’s

Cyprus has been the center of interest during almost all historical periods and it has aroused attention in the public opinion. The main component that has made the island an arresting constituent can be referred as its strategic location in the middle of the Asia, Europe and Africa. When its crucial point in terms of Eastern Mediterranean, its closeness to Syrian and Turkish coasts with its closeness to Egypt and Suez Channel in the effect of having the right to speak in the sense of entrance and exit to Aegean Sea are taken into consideration, the strategic importance of the island is understood clearly. On the other hand; when some demographic features such as its historic fabric, features of community, population, cultural values, social life, language, traditional life style, underground and overland geographical characters have been analyzed, it shall be revealed that the island locates at the bottom of Anatolian territories. The most important strategic importance of Cyprus that has been referred as a part of Anatolia in terms of its geography, culture and demographic structure for Turkey has proceeded from its geographical position. It has been absolute that the geographical position, which has great importance in terms of military strategy, shall gain an advantage when it comes together with naval force. The maximum use of naval force and geography are related not only with security issue but also economic and politic advantages. Such a phenomenon shall be clarified, when England that has gained more strength throughout history by using her naval force against Continental Europe has been considered. As the developments both in maritime transport and maritime commerce have established marine ways, the markets and resources in there, especially the protection and cordon off process of the vulnerable geographic points in these regions have become a current issue; the Cyprus Island has become a more of an issue for Turkey.
Within the framework of Megali Idea, while island of Cyprus has become a target of expansionist and imperialist policy for Greece, it has become a security and defense problem for Turkey thus Turkish Cypriots living in the island have differentiate the position of the island. Because of this reason, it should not be forgotten that it is not possible to cover a mistake that was made in the strategy, in tactics. More importantly, even if Greeks have been referred as Republic of Cyprus in the international field, Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus does not have authority in order to represent the island by itself, yet if Greek Cypriot Administration is let to utilize from the resources in the island by itself and if she saves the envisaged hydrocarbon resources in the region by itself, it is inevitable that an irreconcilable attitudes of Greeks for Cyprus negotiations shall increase. Although virtual oil crisis seems to be iterated, diplomatic mobility continues after the selection of Hristofias for the negotiations, this ammunition is kept ready as so obtained by Greek Cypriot Administration in any time. All countries or all Mediterranean countries do not agree with Turkey or TRNC. If the ones, who claim that we are legally faulty, are looking forward to reaching a solution in Cyprus, they should not let Greek Cypriot Administration to use these resources by it. Greek Cypriot Administration has been accepted as a member of the EU in order to represent the whole Cyprus by itself, and it is an evident that this situation does not contribute to solution of Cyprus dispute. Furthermore, this situation has also increased the Greek Cypriot Administration character, the dose of dispute thus it has brought the dispute to deadlock. To conclude, both Turkey and TRNC show that they have all rights in there to whole international communities. Even if the ones, who are looking for to reaching a solution for Cyprus dispute that has expanded in the Mediterranean, support or not TRNC and Turkey, they should not let Greek Cypriot Administration to utilize from marine spaces and natural resources. In addition to this fact, both the desires of EU and the USA to have the control of these hydrocarbon resources and their bids made for the recognition of Annan Plan are taken into consideration, it should not be forgotten that both the USA and the EU are trying to take the control of oil and natural gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean by including the whole island to EU and during this process they are aiming to holding off Turkey not to utilize from these reserves and trying to covering up the actions they started in accordance with international law. Therefore, common, flexible and consistent political and economic styles should be implemented by Turkey and TRNC in order to prejudice the regional policies of effective international actors such as the USA and the EU in favor of themselves. The approaches of Greeks; who extorted the rights of Turkey gained from London and Zurich Agreements signed in 1960, does not have the right of representation of the whole island, tries to abolish Turkey’s and TRNC’s sovereignties in the seas; such as causing dissatisfaction between Turkey and the EU, including the EU to the issue whose natural gas and oil production is limited and encouraging Turkey to have problems with the third countries, create a tension. The agreement on exclusive economic zone has already signed between Turkey and TRNC. The enterprises not only at the level of states but also at the level individuals such as fully equipped and modernly designed that meets the needs seismic exploration ships, support of far distant fisheries, increasing of visibility in international airfield and territorial waters of Southern Cyprus in terms of military, maybe most importantly the agreement with Egypt on restriction of exclusive economic zone which is a vital issue are the missions that should be fulfilled immediately in the survival of Turkey and TRNC in the region. The signal control of economic return in the region obtained by Greeks refers to the increasing isolations and embargos applied to Turkish Cypriots and their rights in the long run. Especially, West and the USA who are looking forward for a resolution in Cyprus should not ignore the situation while the enterprise carried out by Greeks which breaches international law and justice concept should be stopped on the way of resolution of Cyprus Issue that has spread and become an issue of almost all countries. It is clear that a single global or continental power cannot dominate the region and it is not a problem which can be solved only by Greeks. Moreover, it is also clear that there is a large scale and multinational chess in the area from Middle East to Eurasia. When the social, economic and political interests are gained from the oil pipelines in a long run period is evaluated, it is proper for Turkey that stands upright on TRNC issue to walk on eggshells in the multinational Mediterranean equation.

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